CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #5 (Feb 1, 2018): The class is officially closed! Thanks to all who participated. Be sure to check page 43 for the closing "statement" and commendations.
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #4 (Jan 30, 2018): The timing worked out where this week's homework stretch is 10 days instead of the usual 7. So you've got extra time to complete the assignment! I'll look for submission through tomorrow, the 31st, and then I'll do a final post to close out the class.
BTW week 4's live event is archived if you missed it.
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #3 (Jan 15, 2018): Week 2 is done - We're halfway through the class! Today WEEK 3 begins where the focus is digital sculpting. This is a far more artistic method of shaping 3D models, so if you struggled in week 2, week 3 should be refreshing.
- Only 1 course to watch this week: Fundamentals of Digital Sculpting
- Live Event tomorrow at 2pm EST
- Please submit homework anytime between Jan 15 - Jan 21 with "BC1-1801 Week 3 Homework Submission" at the top of your post.
Keep up the awesome work, Class! So much creativity and hard work being contributed from everyone 🤘
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #2 (Jan 8, 2018): Week one is accomplished! Today WEEK 2 begins. We're moving forward from basic viewport interaction and into mesh modeling; into Edit Mode and the modifier stack.
- Reminder that you have 2 courses to watch this week: Mesh Modeling Fundamentals and Modeling with Modifiers.
- Live Event tomorrow at 2pm EST
- Please submit homework anytime between Jan 8 - Jan 14 with "BC1-1801 Week 2 Homework Submission" at the top of your post.
As always, don't hesitate to ask questions in this thread!
CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT #1 (Jan 2, 2018): The class has officially started! Today we held the first live event to kick things off. The recording will be published by tomorrow at the latest is now available in "Past Events".
That means it's now up to you to watch the Blender Basics Course and submit your homework to this thread. Please add a big, bold title to your homework submission reply so I can easily tell. Like this:
"BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission"Also don't hesitate to ask questions along the way. I'll be checking this thread daily to answer questions, give advice, check homework.
This thread is for CG Cookie Citizens that are participating in the "Getting Started with 3D Modeling and Blender" class! Its purpose is to serve as central communication for all participating Citizens (excluding Hobby plan Citizens) to ask me and each other questions and to post homework. As the instructor of the class, I will be monitoring this thread on a daily basis (especially Mon-Thurs) throughout the month of January to review homework and answer questions.
This thread is intended only for Citizens who are participating in the class. Free members are welcome to observe the thread but please respect that communication is reserved for Citizens.
Welcome to the CGCookie Class: Getting Started with 3D Modeling & Blender! This is the first "Class" format where Citizen members are invited to focus together on a particular topic/skill together for a month. Participation is this:
It will take place from January 2nd through January 31st and the topic is for beginners that want to get into 3D modeling. The class is based on pre-recorded courses that students are expected to watch each week along with weekly Live Events.
Download the latest official version of Blender and watch the Blender Basics course. The goal this week is to simply get familiar with the application. We’ve all been there: Opening Blender (or any 3D package), gazing at all the crazy UI, trying to orbit in the viewport, crying...Ok, maybe you were stronger than me and didn’t cry. But the reality is 3D software is daunting. There’s SO MUCH to digest especially when you’re a beginner.
This first week we’re going to overview Blender and 3D from an absolutely beginner perspective. What is Blender for? What can it do? Wait, this isn’t a juicing seminar?
During the Live Event we're also going to open the floor, ask me anything (AMA) style, so I can answer all your questions about getting started with Blender.
HOMEWORK: Create a scene out of primitive shapes. It can be anything from a landscape to a spaceship to a character. Just get comfortable with creating and positioning mesh objects. Here's an example:
Take a screenshot of your scene and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 1-6*.
Enter the world of mesh modeling! The oldest form of building objects in 3D, in the computer. We’ll discuss the technical art of “pushing and pulling verts” as modelers often call it. First, watch the Mesh Modeling Fundamentals and Modeling with Modifiers courses to be introduced to this wild, geometric world.
Practice makes perfect here and during this week's Live Event we’ll be mesh-modeling a few objects to demonstrate tools and workflow available with Blender. It’s ideal if you practice along with me!
HOMEWORK: Model either 1, 2, or 3 unique objects using mesh-modeling techniques. They can be as simple or as complex as you like, but they can't be primitives. I want to see that you've used mesh tools to significantly customize your shapes. For example, you could model a hammer, a cell phone, a keyboard, a game controller, a picture frame, a coffee cup - choose something fun!
Take a screenshot of your shaded model + wireframe-over shaded (as pictured above) and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 7-14*.
Digital sculpting is the more artistically intuitive method of 3D modeling. If pushing and pulling verts felt like the hard way of doing things, sculpting will be a welcomed alternative! Watch the Fundamentals of Digital Sculpting course this week.
During the Live Event, we'll discuss the pros and cons of digital sculpting as well as how it compares to mesh modeling. Again, practice makes perfect with any craft, and we will also practice sculpting. Be sure to have your pen and tablet ready!
HOMEWORK: *Submit during the week of Jan 15-21*
There’s still much more to learn about modeling with Blender. Remember, it’s a craft. Time + practice is the only way to develop your modeling skills.
This week your challenge is to dive into the Modeling in Blender Learning Flow. While the class gives you a boost, the Flow takes you further into intermediate and advanced modeling techniques/workflows. Test the waters and see how far you can go this week.
During the Live Event we'll discuss the journey of becoming a skilled modeler as well as the potential for turning it into a career. Finally, I’m going to sift through homework submissions to commend my favorites and offer critiques!
HOMEWORK: Model and/or sculpt something challenging this week! Try tackling a character or a complex vehicle, etc. Show me what you've learned; what you're capable of!
Take a screenshot of your shaded model and post it in a reply to this thread *during the week of Jan 21-31*.
rcdavis4 Awesome homework submission. I had to double-take on those palm trees, thinking they weren't actually primitives smashed together. Nice effect. And the sandhills/desert mountains have a cool paper cut-out style. Great job overall: A+
@Yannis do not worry this scene is great and should not be disappointed at all.
Anyway it does not matter when you started, Blender is so huge with its capabilities that once even years can look too few.
Looking good! One of the least primitive-based looking scenes so far. Nice job jjellevandepitte! A+
What's your experience like going into this class: Pure Blender/3d beginner? A little experience? A lot of experience?
BC1-1801 Week 1 Homework Submission.
Sir Polygon and his "primitive" weapon are no match for the monstrous beast sneaking up from behind.
I really loved the challenge of limiting the image to the built-in primitive shapes. Although, I did stretch the rules a little by popping into Edit mode to adjust the planes to fit the dragon wings. I enjoyed the freedom to create anything we wanted coupled with the satisfaction that comes with actually completing an assignment.
I landed here from learning html and javascript learning to greensock (2d animation) to babylon. As you can tell I have absolutely no art experience, but am having an unbelievable good time learning blender. I didn't even know blender existed three months ago, and thought 3d animation was making a 2d drawing appear 3d, shows how naive someone can be. I do have a question, I have heard references to python and blender, I happen to know python and was curious what you can do with python and blender. Thanks.
Whaaaaaat. This is quite the impressive primitive scene! Awesome job. Wow. A++
Are you new to 3D/Blender?! My guess would be you have some experience..
Nevermind, just saw your panda in your gallery. I'm glad you heeded the challenge of sticking just to primitives when you know how much more can be done with edit mode.
I absolutely cannot tell that you have no art experience ttanya53. This is a fantastic primitive-based scene. I've been playing Super Mario Odyssey and the big fish reminds me of the iconic fish in the game. There's some good details going on in the scene too. A++
Thanks for sharing about where you're coming from with Blender/3D. If you stick with it, you python experience will be invaluable. In general, Python can be used to do basically anything in Blender from a scripting platform. This means it's commonly used to write custom tools from simple macros to complex functions that expand Blender's capabilities. Like the "Retopoflow" addon, which is entirely written in python for Blender.
That to say, a Blender artist that knows how to wield python is super saiyan.
Glad to have you part of the class!
Not new. But I haven't been able to sit down in front of it consistently. Trying to change that this year and pretty much starting over as a refresher.
Ha I love the pose! Nice job ninivekha. Looks like all primitives to me. And the construction of the scene means you must be comfortable with viewport navigation as well as object manipulation. A+
Are you new to 3D/Blender? I see a traditional sculpting piece in your gallery..
Thanks for the encouragement and the A++! As best as I can figure this project took about nine hours over a span of four days. I started with the knight character and sword, but then the Blender scene demanded I try a primitive dragon. So, compelled by a long absent yet welcomed feeling of inspiration, I started assembling the dragon with the default cube. The creative process was addictive and I completely enjoyed the purpose, stretch, and strain of this exercise. (That sounded like I was going to the gym?) I'm looking forward to more of these livestream classes! Thanks Kent and CG Cookie folks.
